WO2014021858A1

WO2014021858A1 - Print media

Info

Publication number: WO2014021858A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/049022
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Byrne; Charles E. Schinner
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2012-07-31
Filing date: 2012-07-31
Publication date: 2014-02-06

Abstract

Print media are disclosed. An example print medium includes a first surface to receive print. The print is to be removable from the first surface. The example print medium further includes a second surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as a threshold smoothness. A surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as the threshold smoothness is to be substantially nonabrasive to the print to be received on the first surface, and a surface having a smoothness rougher than the threshold smoothness is to be abrasive to the print.

Description

PRINT MEDIA

BACKGROUND

[0001] Generally, toner or ink is printed on a sheet of paper. When the toner or ink dries, the toner or ink may bond to fibers of the paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] FIG. 1 is a top, perspective view of an example print medium disclosed herein.

[0003] FIG. 2 is a bottom, perspective view of the example print medium of FIG. 1.

[0004] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a stack of example print media disclosed herein.

[0005] FIG. 4 is a side view of an example print medium disclosed herein.

[0006] FIG. 5 is a side view of another example print medium disclosed herein.

[0007] FIG. 6 is a side view of yet another example print medium disclosed herein.

[0008] To clarify multiple layers and regions, the thickness of the layers are enlarged in the drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts. As used in this patent, stating that any part (e.g., a layer, film, area, or plate) is in any way positioned on (e.g., positioned on, located on, disposed on, or formed on, etc.) another part, means that the referenced part is either in contact with the other part, or that the referenced part is above the other part with one or more intermediate part(s) located therebetween. Stating that any part is in contact with another part means that there is no intermediate part between the two parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Print media are disclosed herein. Print (e.g., ink, toner, etc.) may be printed on a first surface of an example print medium such as, for example, a sheet of paper. In some instances, the print is removable (i.e., erasable) from the first surface via abrasion and/or friction, heat, chemical treatment, and/or other techniques. In some such examples, the print is abradable from the first surface. Thus, if an abrasive surface contacts the first side and/or the print, the print may be removed from the first surface of the print medium. However, a surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as a threshold smoothness (e.g., having a Sheffield smoothness value less than or equal to a threshold Sheffield smoothness value) is substantially nonabrasive to the print. The example print media includes a second surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as the threshold smoothness. Thus, when the first surface of one example print medium contacts the second surface of another example print medium, the second surface does not remove the print from the first surface.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a top, perspective view of an example print medium 100 disclosed herein. In the illustrated example, the print medium 100 is a sheet of paper. Other example print media include brochures, folders, envelopes, card stock, menus, posters, and/or any other type of print medium. The example print medium 100 of FIG. 1 includes a first side 102 defining a first surface 104. In the illustrated example, print 106 (e.g., via ink, toner, etc.) is disposed (e.g., deposited) on the first surface 104. The example print 106 of FIG. 1 reads "REMOVABLE PRINT." In some examples, the print medium 100 receives the print 106 via a printer (e.g., a laser-jet printer, an ink-jet printer, etc.), a pen, a marker, a brush, and/or any other suitable device.

[0011] In the illustrated example, the print 106 may be removed from the first side 102 and/or the first surface 104 of the print medium 100 via abrasion and/or friction, heat, chemical treatment, and/or any other suitable technique. Thus, the print 106 is removable (i.e., erasable, intentionally separable from the first side 102 and/or the first surface 106, etc.). In some examples, the print 106 is abradable from (i.e., capable of being worn from and/or scraped off) the first side 102 and/or the first surface 104 if the print 106 and/or the first surface 104 contacts an abrasive surface (e.g., a surface having a Sheffield smoothness value greater than a threshold Sheffield smoothness value). However, a surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as a threshold smoothness (e.g., a surface having a Sheffield smoothness value less than the threshold Sheffield smoothness value) is substantially nonabrasive to the print 106. As a result, if the first surface 104 contacts a surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as the threshold smoothness, the print 106 substantially remains on the first surface 104.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a bottom, perspective view of the example print medium 100 of FIG. 1. In the illustrated example, the print medium 100 includes a second side 200 defining a second surface 202. The example second surface 202 includes an indicator 204 (e.g., a watermark, a label, and/or any other suitable indicator) to visually distinguish the second surface 202 from the first surface 104 and/or indicate that the first surface 104 is to receive the print 106. In the illustrated example, the second surface 202 has a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as than the threshold smoothness.

[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a stack 300 of example print media 302 disclosed herein. In the illustrated example, each of the example print media 302 of FIG. 3 are substantially identical to the print medium 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, to avoid redundancy, the example print media 302 of FIG. 3 are not separately described. In the illustrated example, the print media 302 are oriented such that the first surfaces 104 of the print media 302 face upwardly in the orientation of FIG. 3. Thus, except for the example print medium 302 on top of the stack 300, each the first surfaces 104 of the example print media 302 contacts at least one of the second surfaces 202. Because the example second surfaces 202 are at least as smooth as the threshold smoothness, the second surfaces 202 are substantially nonabrasive to the print 106. Thus, the print 106 remains on the first surfaces 104 when the example stack 300 is handled and/or moved, the print media 302 are rubbed together, the print media 302 are placed on and/or in the stack 300, the print media 302 are removed from the stack 300, etc.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view of an example print medium 400 disclosed herein, which may be used to implement the example print medium 100 of FIGS. 1-2 or one of the example print media 302 of FIG. 3. In the illustrated example, the print medium 400 is a sheet of paper. The example print medium 400 of FIG. 4 includes a base 402 (e.g., a cellulose base) defining a first side 404 and a second side 406. In the illustrated example, a coating 408 (e.g., a calcium carbonate coating, a silicone based coating, etc.) is coupled to the first side 404 of the base 402. In the illustrated example, the coating 408 defines a first surface 410 to receive print. In the illustrated example, the print is to be removable from the first side 404 and/or the first surface 410 via abrasion and/or friction, heat, chemical treatment, and/or any other suitable technique. In some examples, the print is abradable from the first surface 410 by a surface having a smoothness rougher than a threshold smoothness. In the illustrated example, the second side 406 of the base 402 defines a second surface 412. The example second surface 412 of FIG. 4 is at least as smooth as the threshold smoothness and, thus, is substantially nonabrasive (i.e. to removable print disposed on an abutting example print medium). In some examples, the second surface 412 is formed via a calender (i.e., the second surface 412 has a calender finish). In some examples, the first surface 410 has a smoothness rougher than the threshold smoothness.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of another example print medium 500 disclosed herein, which may be used to implement the example print medium 100 of FIGS. 1-2 or one of the example print media 302 of FIG. 3. The example print medium 500 of FIG. 5 includes a base 502 (e.g., a cellulose base). In the illustrated example, a first coating 504 is coupled to a first side 506 of the example base 502, and a second coating 508 is coupled to a second side 510 of the example base 502. In some examples, the first coating 504 includes a first material (e.g., calcium carbonate, silicone, etc.), and the second coating 508 includes the first material and/or a second material (e.g., calcium carbonate, silicone, etc.) different than the first material. In the illustrated example, the first coating 504 defines a first surface 512 onto which removable print is to be received. In some examples, the print is abradable from (i.e., capable of being worn from and/or scraped off) the first surface 512 if the print and/or the first surface 512 contacts an abrasive surface.

[0016] In the illustrated example, the second coating 508 has a heavier weight than the first coating 504 (e.g., the second coating 508 is thicker than the first coating 504, a viscosity of the second coating 508 is greater than a viscosity of the first coating 504, etc.). The example second coating 508 defines a second surface 514, which has a smoothness such that the second surface 514 is substantially nonabrasive (i.e., to removable print disposed on a first surface of an abutting example print medium).

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of another example print medium 600 disclosed herein, which may be used to implement the example print medium 100 of FIGS. 1-2 or one of the example print media 302 of FIGS. 3. The example print medium 600 of FIG. 6 includes a base 602 (e.g., a cellulose base). In the illustrated example, a first coating 604 (e.g., a calcium carbonate coating, a silicone based coating, etc.) is coupled to a first side 606 of the example base 602, and a second coating 608 is coupled to a second side 610 of the example base 602. In the illustrated example, the first coating 604 defines a first surface 612 onto which removable print is to be received. In some examples, the print is abradable from (i.e., capable of being worn from and/or scraped off) the first surface 612 if the print and/or the first surface 612 contacts an abrasive surface.

[0018] The example second coating 608 provides a second surface 614. In the illustrated example, the print is to substantially remain on the first surface 612 when the first surface 612 is in contact with another surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as the second surface 614. Thus, the example second surface 614 is substantially nonabrasive.

[0019] In some examples, the example second coating 608 has a heavier weight than the first coating 604 (e.g., the second coating 608 is thicker than the first coating 604, a viscosity of the second coating 608 is greater than a viscosity of the first coating 604, etc.). In the illustrated example, second coating 608 includes a first layer 616 and a second layer 618. Other examples include other numbers of layers (e.g., 1, 3, 4, 5, etc.). In some examples, the first layer 616 includes a first material (e.g., calcium carbonate, silicone, etc.), and the second layer 618 includes the first material and/or a second material (e.g., calcium carbonate, silicone, etc). In the illustrated example, the first layer 616 is coupled to the base 602, and the second layer 618 is coupled to the first layer 616. Thus, the second layer 618 defines the second surface 614.

[0020] Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A print medium, comprising:

a first surface to receive print, the print to be removable from the first surface; and

a second surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as a threshold smoothness, wherein a surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as the threshold smoothness is to be substantially nonabrasive to the print to be received on the first surface, and wherein a surface having a smoothness rougher than the threshold smoothness is to be abrasive to the print.

2. The print medium of claim 1, wherein the first surface is defined by a coating.

3. The print medium of claim 1, wherein the second surface is defined by a coating.

4. The print medium of claim 3, wherein the second coating comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a first material, the second layer including a second material different than the first material.

5. The print medium of claim 1, wherein the first surface comprises a first material and the second surface comprises a second material different than the first material.

6. A print medium, comprising:

a base including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface to receive print abradable from the first surface, the second surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as a threshold smoothness, wherein the print is to substantially remain on the first surface when the first surface is in contact with another surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as the threshold smoothness.

7. The print medium of claim 6, wherein the second surface is substantially nonabrasive.

8. The print medium of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a coating defining the second surface.

9. The print medium of claim 8, wherein the coating comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a first material, the second layer including a second material different than the first material.

10. The print medium of claim 6, wherein the first surface comprises a coating.

11. A print medium, comprising:

a base having a first side and a second side;

a first coating coupled to the first side, the coating defining a first surface to receive print, the print to be removable from the first surface; and

a second coating coupled to the second side, the second coating providing a second surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as a threshold smoothness, wherein a surface having a smoothness smoother than or as smooth as the threshold smoothness is substantially nonabrasive to the print to be received on the first surface.

12. The print medium of claim 11, wherein the first surface has a smoothness rougher than the threshold smoothness.

13. The print medium of claim 11 , wherein the second coating has a heavier weight than the first coating.

14. The print medium of claim 11 , wherein the first coating comprises a first material and the second coating comprises a second material different than the first material.

15. The print medium of claim 11, wherein the second coating comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer including a first material, the second layer including a second material different than the first material.